Diehard1 wrote:Just as the headline states - what would you do if you were Gillis? Here are my thoughts (yep, there are a few of them):

1) Trade Luongo - notice I didn't say try to trade him, I said trade him. This circus has gone on long enough, good on Lu for not making it worse but he wants to go and he's not necessary anymore. Gillis should take the best offer on the table, whatever it might be, and move him while getting a decent backup for injury cover in return. Don't need this distraction during the playoffs, wondering who might start the next game if Schneids looks shakey one game (and he will, goalies always do).

2) Try to trade Ballard - and this time I mean try, you don't have to do it but it might be a good idea. We all know he's as good as gone in the summer as he's redundant with Garrison, Hamhuis and Edler ahead of him on the left side, never mind the fact his salary is high. He's not all that valuable but if you can get something for him and replace him with a depth guy for this year you do it, if not you try to trade/buy him out in the summer. I'd get rid of Ballard over Booth simply because Booth fills a need (LW with Raymond and Higgins both UFA) more than Ballard does, even though Ballard has been better this season.

3) Find another top 9 forward - ideally this is a center, but a guy who can play center or wing would be fine. He needs to be able to take faceoffs, preferably is a left handed shot and has a little bit of offense. The biggest lift the top 9 will get is Kesler's return in a few weeks, other than that the depth on wing is very good when healthy.

4) Trade one of Higgins/Raymond - This assumes everyone is healthy, or close to it. I say this because I hate losing assets for nothing, and there's no way Gillis signs both. I'd offer one a contract and see if you can sign him, then trade the other. Ideally you keep Raymond because physical wingers in Jensen and potentially Laganiere (if signed) are close to the NHL.

All of these aren't mutually exclusive - i.e. you could get a top 9 guy in return for Lu - but this is what I would do. Don't trade too much youth but a pick or a prospect is fine, just not multiple of each unless it's a long term sloution.

So far they've got the top 9 guy and they've signed Higgins, so they've done 2 of the 4 things I wanted. Now they needx to trade Lu and try and trade Ballard, if possible. We'll see what happens, Gilman says they are aggressively going after guys.

Don't think I woul dbe into giving up that much for Clowe - he's a good player, big and mean but that's a lot for a rental. I'd say Roy probably has as much value as Clowe and he got a 2nd and a decent prospect.

I'd be happy with a Boyd Gordon type (faceoff specialist), another winter (Clowe, Pominville, etc) and some depth on D if Barker isn't going to stick around, and it looks like he isn't.

Don't think I woul dbe into giving up that much for Clowe - he's a good player, big and mean but that's a lot for a rental. I'd say Roy probably has as much value as Clowe and he got a 2nd and a decent prospect.

I'd be happy with a Boyd Gordon type (faceoff specialist), another winter (Clowe, Pominville, etc) and some depth on D if Barker isn't going to stick around, and it looks like he isn't.

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie Ryane Clowe Sweepstakes down to NYR and VAN but all the smart money is being put down on the Rangers. Stay tuned.

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie I would suspect SJ will get some draft picks, including additional or conditional pics, if Clowe re-signs with team that acquires him.

Diehard1 wrote:Just as the headline states - what would you do if you were Gillis? Here are my thoughts (yep, there are a few of them):

1) Trade Luongo - notice I didn't say try to trade him, I said trade him. This circus has gone on long enough, good on Lu for not making it worse but he wants to go and he's not necessary anymore. Gillis should take the best offer on the table, whatever it might be, and move him while getting a decent backup for injury cover in return. Don't need this distraction during the playoffs, wondering who might start the next game if Schneids looks shakey one game (and he will, goalies always do).

2) Try to trade Ballard - and this time I mean try, you don't have to do it but it might be a good idea. We all know he's as good as gone in the summer as he's redundant with Garrison, Hamhuis and Edler ahead of him on the left side, never mind the fact his salary is high. He's not all that valuable but if you can get something for him and replace him with a depth guy for this year you do it, if not you try to trade/buy him out in the summer. I'd get rid of Ballard over Booth simply because Booth fills a need (LW with Raymond and Higgins both UFA) more than Ballard does, even though Ballard has been better this season.

3) Find another top 9 forward - ideally this is a center, but a guy who can play center or wing would be fine. He needs to be able to take faceoffs, preferably is a left handed shot and has a little bit of offense. The biggest lift the top 9 will get is Kesler's return in a few weeks, other than that the depth on wing is very good when healthy.

4) Trade one of Higgins/Raymond - This assumes everyone is healthy, or close to it. I say this because I hate losing assets for nothing, and there's no way Gillis signs both. I'd offer one a contract and see if you can sign him, then trade the other. Ideally you keep Raymond because physical wingers in Jensen and potentially Laganiere (if signed) are close to the NHL.

All of these aren't mutually exclusive - i.e. you could get a top 9 guy in return for Lu - but this is what I would do. Don't trade too much youth but a pick or a prospect is fine, just not multiple of each unless it's a long term sloution.

So far they've got the top 9 guy and they've signed Higgins, so they've done 2 of the 4 things I wanted. Now they needx to trade Lu and try and trade Ballard, if possible. We'll see what happens, Gilman says they are aggressively going after guys.

I'm really not us what the attraction is to go play for the aRangers. They always load up and the fail.

Closer to NewfieLand for him? Is he not settled in SJ after all those years? Hopefully he stays on the West Coast.Two 2nds and a 3rd. I can live with that.Ballard is not for draft picks, we need him for the V-Goaltender